Among those sold are $1 million-plus penthouses and several other high-end units.

That puts the building, in terms of square footage, at just about half sold. The rest of the units are being finished -- at least to a white box stage -- so they're ready for buyers.

Last week CWD hosted a fundraiser for the Van Andel Institute that packed the place, raising thousands of dollars and plenty of awareness that this project is no longer a dream -- it's a reality.

It's also incredibly solid.

High-end infrastructure like double drywall and insulation means there are none of the creaks or even ambient noise from outside as you walk around. In that sense it reminded me of Icon on Bond, Joe Moch's struggling brand new condo building.

The Fitz is as good as new only with the character of a 100-year-old building.

To spur sales and drum up a little PR, developers are offering a 1-year lease on a Porsche Boxster to anyone who buys a unit by Oct. 15. Nice ride, but I'm sure a discount will be even more appealing given a Boxster's likely performance during a Michigan winter.

Units start at about $250,000. Nick and Sam walked me through a few beauties, including a $409,900 2-bedroom unit covering 1,356 square feet. You name it, these units had it -- great views, high-end trim, washer/dryer, party shower....

These places are a dramatically different choice for the high-end of the market than River House, with its modern look, breathtaking views, proximity to freeways, and slightly longer walk to some downtown attractions across the river. River House also has two parking spaces for each unit while the Fitz offers one with the added-cost option of a car-stacking unit.

A Fitz penthouse unit being custom crafted for a shy millionaire who cashed out at the right time was nothing short of stunning, even in incomplete form. It will have a private rooftop deck, arched wood doorways, a high-end custom kitchen and an amazing fireplace.

Cost? Somewhere north of $1.9 million.

Therein lies the problem for many people when they look at downtown housing prices -- particularly if they've spent the better part of their life in this rapidly evolving town.

How much house would $1.9 million buy you in a suburb of Grand Rapids? How much would $250,000 buy you?

The fact is that kind of money will buy you a fabulous house in this area.

That's why downtown living is rightly marketed as a lifestyle choice. Buyers forgo the idea of a yard and higher square footage of the average home or McMansion in favor of being able to walk next door to the library, down the street to their favorite restaurant, a few blocks to their office or up the way to the theater or museum.

If they're lucky, they might even end up across the hall from good friends.

Instead of a yard and a commute they have amenities like the Kindel Furniture-outfitted library and third floor garden, barbecue area and hot tub at the Fitz or the pool, fitness room and spectacular city views of River House (and, of course, the condo association dues to pay for them).

Because those tradeoffs are ones many people are not familiar with here in West Michigan, the mental leap can be a tough one.